The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Imo State Chapter has applauded the state governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma for his efforts to enhance the general welfare of the workers in the state especially in the face of the current economic situation of the country.
Speaking to newsmen while leading workers on a peaceful protest in Owerri, yesterday on the directives of the National leadership of the union, Rev Philip Nwansi said the Governor has shown genuine concern to the plights of Imo citizens especially the workers.
Rev. Philip Nwansi
According to him, "workers in the state have started enjoying the palliatives rolled out by the government of Governor Hope Uzodimma to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
He said, "Imo workers are pleased to join as members of NLC, though the Governor of Imo State has gone ahead of every other State and even the NLC itself to reel out palliatives for the State workers and citizens.
"The Imo workers are grateful to our governor and satisfied with the announcement made by him regarding the salary which we have already started benefiting from," Nwansi said.
Also, according to the Imo State Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Chief Austin Chilakpu, "Imo State is spectacular and quite different from what is happening in other States. This is because Imo has a Governor in the person of His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodimma who is proactive and identifies the problems of workers and how to solve them."
Chief Austin Chilakpu
"While NLC at the National level is asking for a palliatives to cushion the effects from the Federal Government of Imo State workers are already of enjoying N40,000 minimum of wage as part of the palliatives. Recall that for the past three years, Imo workers have enjoyed free transportation from their homes to office and back to their homes."
"There is no secrecy between Government and Labour in Imo State and today in the South East, it is only in Imo State that the Governor has proposed the expansion of the transport scheme that will reduce transportation cost from one zone to the other.
"Government has approved agricultural loans for farmers to improve availability of food and shore up food security in addition to revitalizing the Imo Marketing Board and procurement of various forms of food commodities to be sold at cheaper prices aimed at crashing market prices." he added.
He therefore appealed to Imo the workers to reciprocate the gestures by being peaceful and cooperative with the Government to do more for them.
